Clip for metal lath and the like



MaiCh 118, 1941, Q L. CHURCH 2,235,397

CLIP FOR METAL LATH AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 23, 1939 Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES "PATENT orrlcs 2,235,397 our FOR METAL LA'rn AND THE LIKE can L. Church, Glendale, Calif. Application December 23, 19 39, seta1 No. 310,741

5 Claims. (01. 72-113);

This invention relates to building construction and particularly pertains to a clip for metal lath and the like.

At the present time building construction in-' cludes the use of structural steel elements such as joists and studding and over which metal lath is disposed. Various devices have been provided to apply the metal lath to the structural steel elements and to insure that it is securelyheld. In view of the fact that metal lath is rather difficult to handle and to secure to metal frame elements the problem of attachment has required a great deal of attention. This is due first to the fact that when the lath is placed on the studding element there is no opportunity to secure the lath directly to the studding and joists from the frame side of the lath, thus making it desirable to provide some simple means of interlocking the lath with the frame. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a metal lath clip which can be instantly applied to the lath and the clip and by a simple operation on the part of the workman can be set to positively grip the structural element and to permanently hold the lath in position. This invention has as another object the secure fastening of the lath to a frame element so that when plaster is applied thereto the lath will be held in place firmly even though the weight of the plaster is considerable.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a clip element preferably made of a single piece of steel or iron wire of heavy gauge, the element being formed with opposite hooked and pointed end prongs which may be inserted through the interstices of the lath and in position with relation to the flanges of a structural element, such as an I-beam, so that when the clip is driven into place it will grip the structural element and hold the lath.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the metal lath clip with which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation showing the preliminary step of applying the metal lath clip to a structural element.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2- indicating the clip in its set and gripping position upon the structural element and while holding the metal lath in position.

Fig. 4 is a small view looking upwardly beneath a joint occurring between sheets of metal lath and a supporting element and indicating the manner in which the clip holds the lath across the joint.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l0 indicates the metal lath clip with which the present invention is concerned. This clip is pref- 6 erably made of relatively stiff steel or iron wire which will take and hold a permanent set unless considerable force is applied thereto. The clip is formed with a body length of two sections II and I2. These sections are bent with relation 10 to each other and thus provide an inclined hump l3 which cooperates in the setting of the device. The portions II and 12 are of different length preferably for the purpose of facilitating in bending the structure as it is set. The portion- I2 carries a prong M which is bent upon the portion 12 to form ahook throat l5. This throat accommodates the leg l6 of a structural element such as the I-beam l1 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The opposite end.of the clip is fitted with a return loop portion l8 which is a continuationof the body portion II and provides a throat l9. Bent at an angle to the portion l8 and formed as a continuation thereof is :3. prong 20. The prongs l4 and 20 are preferably sharpened so 25 that they will enter the interstices in the metal lath.

The metal lath clip is used as follows:

A metal lath 2| is stretched across the end face of the leg portion of an I-beam having the flanges l6 and 22. After this has been done and as it is'being held by the workman the point of prong 2|)v is passed through an interstice of the metal lath 2| and its portion l8 hooked over the edge of the leg portion 22 of the I-beam so that this edge will move into the throat [8, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The throat l8 approximates the configuration of the beam portion 22. At this time the portion l2 of the clip will extend downwardly and will provide a suitable grip 40 for the workman so that he may hold the structure firmly and manipulate it readily. At this time the clip is disposed transversely of the I- beam as indicated in Fig. 2. This will place the body portion ll upwardly and against the under face of the I-beam portion 22 and the metal lath 2| interposed therebetween. In this particular position the prong I4 is ready to be inserted through the-interstice of the metal lath adjacent the outer edge of the leg portion 16 of the I-beam. This is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The loop portion comprising lengths I2 and I4 is then given a sharp blow upwardly with a hammer. This will swing the body portion l2 upwardly to a position substantially flush with the under face of the metal lath and the portion I6 of the I-beam. As this is done the prong I 4 will pass through the metal lath and curl over and around the edge of the portion I 6 of the I-beam to the position shown in Fig. 3. As the blow is struck the hook portion I8 will hold the initially seated end of the clip in position and'will straighten the members I I and I2 with relation to each other so that the hump I 3 will be straightened out of the body member and portions H and I2 will lie flush against the lath 2| and the under fan of the I-beam. Due to the fact that the material of which the clip is made is relatively stiff, it will be evident that when a blow is given the loop portion I2 to straighten the members II and I2 with relation to each other that these members will retain their straightened position and hold the throats I and I9 around and over the edges of the leg portions l6 and 22 of the I-beam.

Attention .is directed to the fact that this .is not a clip structure which moves into position by a springing movement of parts to cause them to engage the beam or any other structural element to which theysare applied, but is a clip which positively moves into position and. remains in that position after it has been set, the result being that the clip is decidedly strong, 'will positively and firmly hold the metal lath and any load of plaster which is normally imposed thereupon.

It will thus be seen that the building clip here disclosed may be easily manufactured, easily constructed requires an unusually small amount of material ,for its manufacture, it may bemade and dispensed in bulk at small expense, and can be instantly applied without the use of any special tools and without any special-operation other than a driving blow such as would be used in driving a nail or staplein position.

While I have shown thepreferredform of my invention as now known to me,,it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit of my invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A metal lathslip or thelike comprising a one-piece clip element having ,a bodyportion, hooking prongs at the opposite ends thereof, there being a bend at a point in the lengthof the bodyportion which when straightened out will cause the hooked prongs to pass around the edges of a structural member and to permanently grip the same.

- portion which is bent at a point in its length to form a hump, a hook formed at each end of said body portion and lying in the plane of the hump.

said hooks terminating in prongs adapted to be inserted through the metal lath and acting to embrace the opposite edges of the element to which the-lath is to be fastened when the body portion is 'bent straight thereagainst to remove the hump.

4. A.c1ip structure comprising a continuous wireelement, the intermediate body portion of which is formed of two sections bent to an angularrelation to each other, whereby .a hump willoccur intermediate the body portion and will be formed of two relatively straight body sections, hooks, oneformed at each end of said body sections and comprising a relatively straight prong thereof and a prong bent upon therelatively straight portion to provide a U-shaped throat, the bendsin .the body portion and the hooks being in thesame plane, ,the developed length .of the bodyportion-between the throat of the hooks being slightly greater ,than .the width of the structural element to which the hook is attached, whereby when the bend in the body portion isstraightened the hooks will pass around the edges of the structural element and positively engage and grip the same, the bend of the hooks being such as to insure that when one hook is in its seated position and the body portion is still bent the point of the other hook will .be in a positionto clear the opposite edge of the structural element as the body of the structural .elementis straightened, and an-extension prong provided upon .the hookhaving this clearance whereby the end of the hook may be inserted through the metal-lath.

5. Same as-4, adding the following: saidextension prong being bent at an angle to the hook upon which it is mounted to assume a position substantially at right angles to the metal lath when the hook at the opposite end thereof is in a seated position.

CARL L. CHURCH. 

